How did the manufacturer convince scientists and physicians that it is
"safe" to be exposed regularly to low levels of an exceptionally toxic
poison? Answer: Deceptive research and deceptive statements!

Test conducted after 12-hour fast. All methanol would have been converted
to formaldehyde.

Stegink 1981

34 mg/kg

4 mg/l

Orange juice given despite discussion of high level of methanol in fruit.

Stegink 1983

34 mg/kg

4 mg/l

...

Leon 1989

75 mg/kg

4 mg/l

Test conducted after 12-hour fast. All methanol would have been converted
to formaldehyde.

Stegink 1989

8 hourly doses of 10 mg/kg

4 mg/l

...

Stegink 1990

8 hourly doses of 10 mg/kg

4 mg/l

Fig. 4: Graph of blood methanol concentrations shown with all points well
below 4 mg/l -- the lower limit of their methanol test.

Hertelendy 1993

15 mg/kg

4 mg/l

...

Shaywitz 1993

34 mg/kg

4 mg/l

...

Shaywitz 1994

34 mg/kg

4 mg/l

...

Note: 10 mg/kg is approximately a one liter bottle of diet soda for a 60 kg adult and
1.5 cans of diet soda for a 30 kg child. Children with aspartame freely-available can
ingest between 27 mg/kg - 77 mg/kg (Frey 1976) and adults dieters have been
shown to ingest between 8 mg/kg and 36 mg/kg (Porikos 1984).

In 1986, Davoli (1986a) published a study which showed that 6 mg/kg to 8.7 mg/kg of aspartame
could significantly raise the plasma methanol levels. The methanol levels nearly doubled in
some cases. While there were some logical errors in Davoli's conclusion
(discussed below),
the study proved that by using a reasonable methanol testing method, plasma
methanol levels will increase from a relatively low dose of aspartame
ingestion. The methanol measuring technique used by Davoli was published
in 1985 (Davoli 1986b) and was sensitive to 0.012 mg/l.

They knew and admited that their methanol testing procedure developed in 1969 was
not sensitive enough to detect the large increases of plasma methanol levels when
aspartame was given at doses of 34 mg/kg (Stegink 1984b).

They must have been aware that Davoli found methanol levels increase significantly
when aspartame was given at doses of 6 mg/kg to 8.7 mg/kg. To believe that they were
not aware of this, one has to believe that none of the researchers choose to or knew
how to conduct a simple Medline database search.

They should have known that there were several legitimate plasma methanol measurement
techniques developed since 1969. Given that they admited their technique was not
appropriate for aspartame doses of less than 34 mg/kg (Stegink 1984b), they should
have at least looked to find an appropriate test.

Given that Leon (1989) was aware enough to test for formate levels, he
must have been aware that all of the methanol from aspartame would have already
converted to formaldehyde after a 12-hour fast.

I believe that Monsanto/NutraSweet and the aspartame industry are clearly taking advantage
physicians and scientists who lack the time to carefully investigate each number in a study
to see if there is deception. While these actions may not amount to "scientific fraud," it
does amount to an abuse of the scientific method in my opinion.